[Edison Winter]

Originally Posted by faithfulFrank

Yes, and I did not even mention those who are adversely affected by the lack of sun. S.A.D. is a real thing. It is difficult to get outside when it is this cold. Many people get depressed and lethargic. Those who work inside can find themselves not even seeing the sun for days.....going to work and returning home in the dark.

So, to answer the OP, it is NOT our fascination with the heat. It is our intolerance to the bitter cold and the extremes in our seasons.

Frank D.

I have S.A.D to but its because I am not getting 4 different seasons. Its just really odd to have 1 season all year. Although this winter has been nice and chilly.

[faithfulFrank]

Originally Posted by Edison Winter

Hey Frank.

Actually I live in South Florida (not by choice, long story, planning to leave) The "wants to move back to America" is just being sarcastic because its so different down here it doesnt feel like good ole USA.

Those are all good points you make about the Wintry mess. I lived in New Jersey for the first 20+ years of my life so I have experienced what you speak of.

Your right people of any age can become tired and annoyed of all the wintry mess.

I guess I do see the upside to wanting to get away from all that. No wonder why its so crowded in Florida.

Me personally , the wintry mess doesnt bother me, but Im an odd cat to begin with but I can see why other people get tired of dealing with it.

I understand. We live in such a great country, where we have both diversity in climates AND the freedom to live wherever we want without needing government approval. As bleak as I make western NY out to be, some people love it. Many friends of mine love the snow, and ski, have snowmobiles, etc. There are some things about the change of seasons that are nice.....the changing of the leaves, etc.

I for one have never really liked the snow.......except as a kid when we got snow days..

Life is about trade-offs. There will be a few things that I will miss when we move to Florida for good....but there are many other things I can not experience up here that I can enjoy down there. For me personally, it will be the right thing to do. I'm glad we are all different. Florida would not be able to handle EVERYONE, and I will need someone who WANTS to live up here to buy my house.

Frank D.

[Amy S in PBC]

Originally Posted by Edison Winter

I have S.A.D to but its because I am not getting 4 different seasons. Its just really odd to have 1 season all year. Although this winter has been nice and chilly.

I'm with you - I miss 4 seasons too. I love Fall most - the clean crisp air, colorful leaves, smell of wood burning stoves. S. Florida has a swampy stinky smell to it.

I will say one thing, I've been here for 5 years and I'm still not used to the summer heat - and everyone promised me I would, but I simply wilt. How much longer do you think it will take?

[TriMT7]

Some people absolutely hate the cold. I have a co-worker who has slept with the heat on the past few nights in West Palm Beach.... with temps in the 60s. She has a space heater at work.



Maybe when you can tell us WHY you "love the cold and winter" you will have the answer as to why someone might "love the heat."

[faithfulFrank]

Originally Posted by Lakeland Yankee

Yeah I'll never understand people moving to Florida for weather. They are trading 3 months of horrible cold for 9 months of horrible heat. That just doesn't make any sense. I was trapped more indoors here than I ever was in PA. Cold weather is not bad, put on a coat (simple solution, lol). Florida's summer heat and humidity is much worse. You can't do anything about it, sure the beach is cool but most working folks can't do that everyday.

I actually really love heat and hot weather but not when it is 9-10 months straight year after year. Newbies think they'll be out in July enjoying the Florida sun, lol. Instead they are sitting in their air conditioned houses waiting for the 2 months of perfect weather. Or they are out with a flushed red face half having a heat stroke pretending that the heat and humidity doesn't bother them. It doesn't take them long to realize air conditioning is our friend 9-10 months out of the year here. Of course they love the heat and humidity so much that they won't even need AC, lol. Lower electric bill that way.

I can understand a snowbird though since they are getting the best of both worlds.


I want my 4 seasons back.

I understand your viewpoint. As said before, some folks tolerate the heat better then others.....some prefer the cold better. Our winter is NOT three months. I have seen snowstorms both in October and as late as May. We have had killer frosts in June. My utility bills in my 15 year old Florida home are way less expensive then my very well built and insulated 9 year old NY home.

Also, I have been at my Florida home in the hottest part of summer, and have worked outside all day. I did sweat, and did come in a few times to cool off and hydrate, but I enjoyed it. In Florida, during the summer, you do outside stuff in the morning and evening, and stay in the hottest part of the day. In the winter up here, you stay inside ALL THE TIME. Period. They even have warnings not to go outside because of frostbite, etc.

Frank D.

[TracyH68]

It's a difficult question and I don't think there's any real answer. It's a preference, you like cold other like heat, it's the way we're built I guess. I was born and raised in Central Florida, and for the first time in my life I'm looking to relocate, we're thinking Pa. Property prices are so much better up there and Florida is going down hill fast. It's not the weather that makes me want to leave, it's the people. It's over crowded with grouchy unhappy people. I'm a home body also, I don't like the heat during the summer but love it in the fall and spring. The winters are nice too, I hear it's suppose to get down to the 20's here tonight, but who knows. I won't be outside to feel it LOL.

[Edison Winter]

Originally Posted by Amy S in PBC

I'm with you - I miss 4 seasons too. I love Fall most - the clean crisp air, colorful leaves, smell of wood burning stoves. S. Florida has a swampy stinky smell to it.

I will say one thing, I've been here for 5 years and I'm still not used to the summer heat - and everyone promised me I would, but I simply wilt. How much longer do you think it will take?

That is when I get Seasonaly Depressed the most is Fall and Winter. Because everywhere else in the country is getting that nice Fall air and the leaves changing and college football and all, and down here its a continuation of summer until December. This cold front is great and it has been chilly a few times down here around this time of year but 2 weeks ago it was like 82 on Christmas. Man I get bummed.

Spring and Summer really dont bother me much down here because New Jersey summers are pretty much the same weather as here, so I was used to hot summers. Plus its always great to look at the weather map in the summer and see there is actually places in the country that have higher Temperatures then Florida.

To the other poster that asked why I prefer the cold, I pretty much covered that in my original post but to elaborate more, the cold air gives me more energy to do things unlike the heat which makes me very tired. Also as odd as this might seem to some people , I prefer to associate with and respect people more who know what its like to have 4 seasons. I think it builds character to live thru the different seasons. There are different things to do and enjoy in each season and the people that experience all 4 generally have more character to them and appreciate things a little more and are more open minded to different ways of living , as opposed to the people down hear who wear T shirts and shorts all year, live at the beach, and only experience one season. Thats lame.

The more I think of it the more it comes clear that I understand why older folks prefer the warm weather states but Im 27 and find it hard to bond with people down here when all they think about is beach, sunshine, and clubs.

Boggles my mind to, trying to watch the news down here. They just love to gloat about 80 degree weather in December or January like were so speacial down here. That goes back to me saying , 1 season all year is lame and its almost like the people dont have character, its just beach beach beach.

[CleanCutHippie]

Having lived in FL and Texas but orginally from NY I absolutely hate the cold. I don't understand how anyone can like the cold.

I loved waking up in Ft Lauderdale to 80 degrees in December. In NY I only like 1 season and that was the summer. I hated the fall, air too thin/cold, hated the winter, and even the spring is too cold. I never want to own a jacket again and perhaps not even a sweater....haha

[The Floridian]

I'm born and reared in central Florida... as a kid, I was playing on Crescent Beach. Sure, it gets hot in the summer. But I'm in Medellin or Rio at that time.

Life is good....

[FLBob]

One of the things that I love is that people are different. People have different needs and like different things. I'm glad that there are a large number of people that like cool or cold weather. I like to be warm. More over I like the activities that warm weather affords me. I love boating, and where I live there are rivers that are surrounded by undeveloped land, miles and miles of natural Florida. I'm a fishing addict. When I lived in Maryland I when crazy during the winters, I planned an ice fishing trip annually with my friends. I have many great stories from those trips but none of those trips compares to the enjoyment I have fishing the waters here in Florida.
I'm fortunate to have a home with a pool, during the summer it's great to finish the day's work and float in the pool with my wife. I grow tropical orchids in my back yard. I see the 4 seasons here, I enjoy the seasons here.
For me warm/hot/humid are my preference, I'm happy with Florida temps. If your preference is cool/cold/dry then there are plenty of other places where you'll be happy.